Social Security Benefits Must Be Paid

Re “Social Security: Get Tough,” editorial, June 15: What has already been promised by the government in future Social Security benefits must and will be paid, and talk of reducing cost-of-living adjustments is simply hot air, politically impossible to enact. Faith in the future of Social Security among the young is weak because they recognize the inevitable failure of pay-as-you-go.

Separate the past and present from the future. Accept the obligation of benefits already earned and pledge to meet them with a combination of the money in the trust fund and general revenues. As of a day certain, when Congress finally gets off the dime, inaugurate a new system, solidly financed, to provide a single benefit level for all, at or around the poverty level of income. And tell the smoke-and-mirrors people that, yes, these two programs can indeed be blended for those now in their middle years.

Gilbert S. Bahn

Moorpark

The articles and editorials I read about Social Security, whether advocating reform or indicating that only minor fixes are required, almost universally neglect to mention a change that would generate a great deal of money for the system, and that is to increase or remove the cap on the earnings on which Social Security tax is paid. The people whose earnings have increased hugely over the past 10 or so years pay a meager percentage in Social Security tax, while those whose earnings have stagnated pay on all of their much-lower earnings. To raise the cap would generate lots of money as well as reform this, our most regressive, tax. It would probably “fix” Social Security so that the more drastic measures being proposed would not be necessary.

Harriet B. McNamara

Ventura